Page 35 of Jagger

So fucking stupid.

Rage and self-loathing consume my emotions. I slam my fist down the steering wheel over and over again with alarming force before thrusting myself back into the seat one, two, three times.

I’d have kept at it, too, if it wasn’t for my phone blaring in my pocket.

Idiotically thinking it could it Vida, I fish it out with such a quick hand, it nearly fumbles from my grip onto the floor. The screen doesn’t reveal the name I want to see, of course not, because you know, that’s the type of shit you only see in movies.

“Hello?”

“Hey,” Calla says, voice soft, almost meek. “You got a minute?”

“Yeah.” I reply testily, squeezing my eyes shut.

“I, um—I realize this is extremely last minute, again, so if you can’t do it, I totally get it, but…would Mila be able to spend the night with you next weekend? You’re off right?”

At her request, I sit up a little straighter. With the whole Vida situation bogging me down, I hadn’t dared to ask Calla about Mila sleeping over on a regular basis. I just couldn’t handle another potential blow.

“Yeah, I’m off, and of course she can stay. You don’t have to ask me, Calla. I want her to stay. I told you that the last time...”

“I know,” she agrees. “I guess I just wanted to make sure.”

“Is everything okay?” I hedge.

“It’s fine, everything is more than fine. I just um—I’m going on a date with this guy I recently started seeing, and he asked me to spend the night.”

I cringe, but it’s not because she’s dating other people. She has been since she left me. I’m cringing because, not too long ago, that was me.

And it’s yet another reminder that I lost it.

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